God already planned his salvation work from the beginning and let his plan known through the bible so that people can follow his plan to receive salvation. One of the teachings God gave us to reveal the last days is through the histories of the past. Specifically, one historical event is very important to know the salvation work of God. Jesus compares the last days to the time of Noah:
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| Noah’s Ark from The Walters Art Museum |
Matthew 24:36 36 “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 37 As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; 39 and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.
In the time of Noah people became wicked and all the thoughts in man’s mind were evil. Because of their wickedness God punished them with flood destroying all the living things on the earth except for Noah and his family including all the animals in the ark built by Noah. Noah could be saved because he was considered as righteous and blameless among the wicked people of the world of his time. Then what is the relationship between the time of Noah and the last days? What did Jesus want to teach us?
This story contains several messages from God. First, Noah’s time was the time of disasters destroying all the living things of the earth. Second, even though all the people and animals of the earth perished because of the punishment of God, Noah and all the people and living things in the ark could be saved by the grace of God. Then what is the meaning of this story and how is it related to the last days? According to the bible there would be disasters destroying all the living things on this earth with fire.
2 Peter 3:5 But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water. 6 By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed….But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare. 11 Sinceeverything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? ……That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. 13 But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.
Jeremiah 4:5 “Announce in Judah and proclaim in Jerusalem and say: ‘Sound the trumpet throughout the land!’ Cry aloud and say: ‘Gather together! Let us flee to the fortified cities!’ 6 Raise the signal to go to Zion! Flee for safety without delay! For I am bringing disaster from the north, even terrible destruction.”
Acts 11:7 7 Then I heard a voice telling me, ‘Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.’ 8 “I replied, ‘Surely not, Lord! Nothing impure or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’ 9 “The voice spoke from heaven a second time, ‘Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.’ 10 This happened three times, and then it was all pulled up to heaven again…..18 When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, “So then, even to Gentiles God has granted repentance that leads to life.”
Revelation 14:1 14 Then I looked, and there before me was the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads. ….. 4 These are those who did not defile themselves with women, for they remained virgins. They follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They were purchased from among mankind and offered as firstfruits to God and the Lamb. 5 No lie was found in their mouths; they are blameless.